This Yarn Remainder Finder can help you figure out the yardage (or meters) remaining in your ball of yarn at any point in your knitting. This is useful for all sorts of things, but most importantly, you can find how much yarn you have left before you start that final section (and risk playing yarn chicken)!
Yarn Remainder Finder
You need to know a couple things first, so that you can enter all the necessary information into the table.
What you need to put into the table:
- Original skein weight (in grams, ounces, or another weight)
- Remaining skein weight (make sure this is the same unit of measurement as the original skein weight)
- Total skein yardage (or meters) from the ball band
The maths (that British term works so well) are available to the right in the table so you can see how it is done. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy to remember even when you aren’t able to pull up this table.
Using the Yarn Remainder Finder Table
The Yarn Remainder Finder is interactive! In the table below, click on the box next to the descriptions for 1. original skein weight, 2. remaining skein weight, and 3. skein yardage, and enter the correct numbers. The Yarn Remainder Finder will then do the maths for you! The answers appear in the cell next to “Total yardage (meters) remaining” which has a 0 in it when the table is blank. Hit enter after entering the information for your three values, and voila! Your yardage is calculated (in whichever unit of measurement you entered for your skein yardage).
| Knowns | Type in Numbers | Calculations | |
| Original Weight of skein | multiply (remaining weight * skein yardage) | 0 | |
| Remaining weight of skein | divide (answer above / original weight) | 0 | |
| Skein yardage | skein meters (yardage * 0.9144) | 0 | |
| Multiply remaining weight above * yardage | multiply skein meters above * remaining weight | ||
| Total yardage Remaining | 0 | Total meters remaining | 0 |
Calculating Yardage Consumption
Measure off a number of yards/meters (5 or 10) of yarn, working from the needles. Put a locking pin (I usually tie a loose slip knot over the pin) to mark the end of the measured yarn. Work the rows specified, then measure the remaining yarn to determine yarn used and subtract the remaining yarn from the total measured yarn. If you do not measure enough at the outset, increase and track additional the yards/meters measured as needed. This table is more sophisticated. You may get an error on Row 3 until you have added numbers in both 1 or 2 for yarn consumption and bind off requirements
| Yarn Consumption Calculator | ||||
| Action | Yards | Meters | What to do | |
| 1 | Type in the amount of yarn used in the rows/rnds you measured | Type in whichever measurement you prefer to use | ||
| 2 | Type in the number of rnds/rows you measured | Type in | ||
| A | Calculates the yarn needed for a single rnd/row (rounded to 0.125 of yard or 0.1 of meter) | 0 | 0 | This automatically calculates based on your inputs |
| 3 | Type in the number of rnds/rows to be completed | Type in based on pattern | ||
| B | Calculates the amount of yarn needed to complete the total rnds/rows (not rounded) to be completed | 0 | 0 | This automatically calculates based on your inputs |
| 4 | Type in a multiplier for JSSBO (use a number between 3 and 6) | Type in. Be generous! Use higher numbers to be sure. | ||
| C | Calculates the yards or meters for JSSBO | 0 | 0 | This automatically calculates based on your inputs |
| 5 | Type in a multiplier for a regular BO (use a number between 2 and 4 | Type in. Be generous! Use higher numbers to be sure. | ||
| D | Calculates the yards or meters for a regular BO | 0 | 0 | This automatically calculates based on your inputs |
For more about how to read knitting patterns, see Knitting Repeat Language, Using Written Pattern Table Instructions, Gauge, At The Same Time, Measuring / Measure, and Pattern as Established.
For more about patterns in general, see Yarn Consumption Calculator, Action Chart, Yarn Remainder Finder, Grading: Making One Size, Creating Many, Color Play in Yarn.
